Combined vacuum-cleaner and carpet-sweeper.



M. S. WRIGHT.

COMBINED VACUUM CLEANER AND CARPET` SWEEPEE.

- APPLICATION IIILBD MAY l0, 1913. 1,109,492.

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COMBINED VACUUM CLEANER ENC CARPET swEEPEE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1913. 1,109,492. Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

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MORRIS S. WRIGHT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO M. S. WRIGHT COMPANY, 0F. WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED VACUUM-CLEANER AND CARPET-SWEEPER.

Specification of Letters etent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 10, 1913. SerialNo. 766870'.

To (/Z 2li/mm 'it 711,113/ concern Be it known that L'B'Ioiuns S. llvnioirr, a citizen ot' the Unitedv States. residing at Vi/orccstcr. in the county ot lYorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer- Atain new and useful Improvements in Gombined Vaenum-Cleaners and Carpet-Sweepers, ot' which the following is a specitication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing'.

This invention relatesl to rarpet cleaning machines ot' a portable type adaiiited to be moved back and forth over a. floor or other surface, and in its movement to gather up dust and the likel from said surface.

ln an ctlort to combine. in a single machine` seine of the advantages of a sweeper and vacuum cleaner it has been suggested to attach to the vacuum cleaner, a brush or the like, but this type of construction did not provo altogether satisfactorp in pactice. since the brush attachment did not take the form of a true carpet sweeper, and it was impossible to utilize the brush attachmentas a sweeper independently of the vacuum cleaner. This had disadvantages in that it was deemed not desirable at all times to utilize at the same time. both the vacuum cleaner and sweeper', and this led to the presentv invention.

More particularly, the present invention is designed to combine in a single machine. a suction cleaning device and a sweeping` device, ene of said devices being adapted to be connected to the other and being detachable as a complete unit from the other` to the end that when combined, the devices operate together as a single machine, thereby combining the advantages of the .sweeper and suction cleaner, and the parts being constructed and arranged whereby when the detachable device is removed. the two devices may be independently operated. the

one as an ordinary carpet sweeper, and the other as a suction cleaner. Therefore. the

present invention may Abe said to include in combination. a' portable vacuum cleaner movementy and operation of the vacuum cleaner, and being detachable therefrom.1 whereby the sweeper or suction device may be operated jointlyr and also independently.

A further important characteristic ot' the invention resides in no-vel supporting means on the vacuum cleaner for the sweeper, whereby the latter will atI all times assume and maintain a correct operative position relative to the surface, and this, without. in any way interfering with the maintenance of proper Contact between the inlet end of the dust nozzle of the vacuum cleaner and the tloor surface. lVith this aim in view, the connection between the sweeper and vacuum cleaner is a movable one, permitting the sweeper device to independently move in a vertical direction and in the preteri'ed embodiment of my invention the connection is such that the sweeper device will of its own Weight assume a lowered position in workingr contact With the surface.

It is further contemplated bythe invention to provide a sweeper4 whiell, while of itself a complete operative device for customary sweeping purposes, is of a size to tit substantially within the space between thev usual downwardly projecting nozzle inlet at one end and the supporting wheel at the opposite end of the vacuum cleaner, the casing of the latter constituting in etl'ect a covering or housing for the sweeper. and the combined devices occupying but little more space than one of said devices as at present constructed.

Again, the invention includes means whereby a single operating handle may be employed for imparting movement to either the suction cleaner or carpet sweeper, the handle being readily removable trom the suction cleaner, when it is desired to utilize the carpet sweeper by itself, and the handle having lneans of attachment to said carpet sweeper when detached.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple` inexpensive and highly efficient machine of the -character mentioned adapted to thoroughly and effectively remove not only the liner liarticles of dust and dirt from a carpet or the surface under more particularity in the descriptif'sn to follow, which for a clea r uinlerstainling of thel invention 1s to be considered 1n connection with the accompanying drawings forming a 1. 0nd.

; yieldably engage an part hereof. and wherein disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combined-machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the sweeping device, with the cover open. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the handle coupling members detached.

lVith more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, the vacuum or suction cleaner device will' first be referred to.

1 is the bottom wall of a suitable dust box, the top wall 2 of which is preferably inclined in a downward direction from the front end thereof. I are the. side walls of the dust box and a vertically extending wall 4 forms the. rear end of said box, the opposite or front end of which is open to receive the collected dust. Supported upon the top wall 2 of the dust box are suitable bellows It comprising a lower stationary wall and an upper movable wall. the walls being hingedly connected at the front end of the machine and being otherwise connected l1 y`flexible folds 5. The fixed bottom wall. of the bellows is adapted to have valved communication as at 6 with the interior of the dust box and the upper movable wall has a valve controlled outlet 7. Conveniently a pair of bellows are employed, the same being oppositelv acting to the end that as one is expanded the other is collapsed, the driving means for the bellows taking the form of suitable pitman rods each pivotally rconnected at 9 to the movable wall of the bellows and having an eccentric ,connection 10 with a drive shaft 11 extending transversely of the machine. A suitable traction wheel 12 is supported on the drive shaft 11. The traction wheel 12 may have a rubber or other frictional tread surface 13. The bellows are of a length to extend substantially from end to end of the machine and overlie the traction wheel as shown, the top and bottom walls of the dust box being extended to a point adjacent the rear end of the machine and conveniently eut out to receivethe traction wheel and pitman connections.

14 isa removable cover for the bellows,

the same forming in f :onnection with the side walls 3 and rear end wall 15 an inclosing casing.

1G is a flexible dust collecting and filtering bag, having at its open mouth cnd thereof a` surrounding collar 1T. The collar has at opposite sides thereof a how spring 18 fixedly connected at one end as h v screws 19 and slidably connected at the opposite free The said bow springs are adapted to adjustable abutment in the form of a threaded holt 2O projecting forwardly from suitable side iangcs 21 on the y'alls 3 adjacent the forward end of the dust box. The dust inlet nozzle preferably takes the form of a body part 22 extending substantially from side to side of the. machine and having a dust inlet mouth 23 willi an elongated intake slot 2i at the lower edge thereof. The nozzle is removably mounted. preferably by a suitable swinging bail 2t mountedy upon the casing and adapted to he. moved/'into and out of engagement with bow springs 25 secured at one end to the body part of the nomle 22 and free at the opposite end. The nozzle when engaged by the bail 24 will be forced into yieldalde contact. with the wall surrounding the opening" of the dust box. The yieldable action ot' the springs 18 in forcing' the collar outwardly so as to he engaged by the noz/'Ale may he adf justed by' the bolts 20.

Pivotally mounted upon the sides of the casing as by brackets 26 is a suitable handle bail 27 having` a cup shaped coupling` member 28 interiorly threaded at 29 adapted for the reception of a removable handle 30 having exterior threads 31 to enga gc with threads of the cup shaped member 2S. Extending longitudinally of the sides of the cover 14 are suitable bow springs 32 secured yat one end 33 and slidably connected at 34 and having a retaining recess intermediate said ends. The said recesses are adapted to receive the arms of the handle bail 27 and retain the same in a fixed position when the device is not in use. This connection has been found to be particularly advantageous in the application and removal of the nozzle. since in this process it is customary to tilt the machine upon the rear` end thereof to the end that the nozzle. and dust bag may be removed vertically, thereby obviating any spilling of the collected dust.

From the description thus far, it will be appreciated that a complete suction cleaning device is provided, the same being adapted to be operated by engaging the handle 30 and imparting back and forth movement to the machine over the surface, the bellows alternately acting through their drive connections with the traction wheel 12 to suck up the dust and other lighter particles from the floor covering, or through the floor coveri ng and from the surface of the floor itself.

lt will also be appreciated that a space is left between tlie'wheel chamber at the rear end of the device and the projecting mouth or inlet end oftlie nozzle at the front of the device, and I conveniently take advan tage of this space for the reception of the carpet sweeper to be now described.

36 are side walls of a suitable casing for the sweeper, the end walls of which are designated by the reference numeral 37, and tlic'bottom walls 3S of which take. the form of dust pans *inclining from said ends toward the center of the device and terminating short of said center and having upwardly extending struck up dust retaining lips or flanges 39. 'The flanges 39 are preferably curved, and the space therebetween is adapted for the reception of a suitable brush 40 mounted upon a shaft 41 which said shaft has bearing at its ends in side guard plates 42 slightly spaced from the sides 36 ofthe sweeper device. The sides,

36 are preferably slotted at 43 for the ready application and removal of the brush and its shaft from said side plates 42. The driving means for the brush shaft takes the form of traction wheels 44, there being a pair at each side of the brush having rubber or other friction treads The said wheels are positioned in the space between the sides 36 of the casing and the guard plates 42 and are mounted upon suitable shafts 46 extending'from side to side of the machineA and loosely supported in slots 47 in the sides 36. Suitable spring members 48 connected to the ends 37 ofthe casing are adapted at their free ends 49 to normally exert inward and downward pressure on the rollers whereby to tend to force the same into contact With the floor surface as well as into contact with suitable transmission wheels 50 having rubber or other yieldablctreads 51, the said transmission wheels being mounted upon the brush shaft 4]., one adjacent each end thereof in the space be tween the sides 36 and guard plates 42. A movable top or cover 51 conveniently of sheet metal is pivotally connected at one end 52 to one end 37 of the casing and has an engaginfv lip 53 at` the opposite end thereof to slip over and engage a suitable springmember 54 forming a latch whereby/to maintain the cover in place. A handle bail 55 is pivotally connected at 56 to the sides 36 of the casing, the opposite arms of said bail be* ing adapted to lie within the space between the wheels 44 and the sides 36 of the casing.

The sweeper as above described is adapted to lit below the dust box in the space between the nozzle and wheel chamber and is preferablyl movably supported in position as by pintles 57 and 58, the one being' secured to and projecting inwardly from a downwardly project-ing part 5l) of the vacuum cleaner casing and the other projecting inwaidly from the nozzle member The ends 37 of the sweeper casing' are provided with vertically extended recesses or slots 60 adapted for the reception of the said piiitles 57 and 5S. This connection makes possible the automatic positioning of the sweeper relative to the surface, and because of the loose connection between the sweeper device and vacuum cleaner, the contacting engagement of one er the other of the parts comprising the sweeper drive wheels and the nozzle, will not interfere with the engagement of the other with the surface to loe cleaned.

Suitable buffers 61 secured to the under surface of the bottom wall l of the dust box prevent injurious contact between the top of the sweeper and the bottom of the dust box, and likewise deaden the sound between these parts in the operation of the device.

As has been seen, the removable nozzle 22 constitutes a retaining medium for the sweeper. lVhen it is desired to operate either the sweeper or the vacuum cleaner independently, the nozzle is removed, when the sweeper may be detached at its rear end from the supporting pintle. 57. lf desired, the handle bail 55 may have means of connection to the elongated handle 27 above 1e ferred to, and with this in view I provide on the bail 55 a coupling member' 62 having a projection 63 exteriorly threaded and adapted tobe engaged by interior threads 64 in the terminal of said handle 30. The 'sweeper is reversible, and a recess is provided in both the projection 59 and the nozzle 22 adaptedfor the reception of the projection 63 of the handle of the sweeper, regardless of which end of the sweeper isV positioned foremost, the said recesses being indicated by the numerals 65 and 66 respectively. A yieldable buffer 67 as of cord projects substantially entirely around the sweeper device as shown.

In operation if it is desired to utilize the -combined machine for both sweeping vand suction cleaning purposes the parts are assembled as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, and by imparting back V,and forth movement through the medium of the push handle 28 the bellows are operated to suck in the dust and the sweeper is also operated to pick up lint, threads, pins. or other heavier particles from the surface. The sweeper is capable of a slight tilting action to the end that one or the other'of the drive Wheels is in tight frictional contact with the surface andthe brush wheel when the sweeper is nalependently,

moved in one direction, while the other wheel readiljv1 rides over said snrface,whereas in the return movement of the device the reverse action taxes place, asis obvious. Assuming now that it is desired to utilize either the sweeper or the vacuum cleaner the operator swings the bail "gl about its pivot, thereby releasing the nozzle Q2, and for convenience in this operation the device is .eet i-.pon its rear end. The nozzle havinej been removed, the sweeper is released at 'its rear end from the pintle 57, and may have applied thereto if desired the push handle 30.

I claim:

1. In combination, a suction cleaner, a carpet sweeper, one ot said devices being arranged below and connected to the other for .simultaneoi-is movement and operation, and means whereby .said devices may be bodilv detached one from the other as complete niiits whereby they are independently operable, the one as a suction cleaner and the other as a carpet sweeper.

Q. ln combination with a vacuum cleaning machine having a dust box, a dust inlet nozzle, vacuum creating means and a supporting wheel, ot' a carpet sweeper having1 a dust chamber, a brush and driving wheels, and means for detachably connecting the carpet sweeper to the. vacuum cleaning machine below the dust. box between the said inlet nozzle and supporting wheel.

In a carpet cleaning machine, the combination of vacuum cleaning means including a portable trame, vacuum creating means, inlet nozzle and supporting wheel, of a sweeper including a brush and driving means therefor, means for detachably connecting' said sweeper to the vacninn cleaner whereby they are operable together or either the vacnnm cleaner or the sweeper may be independently operated when removed, and the said sweeper being' independently movable vcrtically when positioned on the vacnnm cleaner.

4. In combination with a vacuum cleaner having vacuum creating means, a dust box,

Aa support-ine wheel. and dust inlet nozzle, the

nozzle being' supported at one end, of a sweeper comprising a casina, supporting wheels, a brush and dust collecting; chamlber, and attaching devices one on the vacunm cleaner frame and the other on the inlet nozzle adapted to engage opposite ends otl the sweeper casing".

Incombmation with a vacuum cleaner I lhaving vacuum creating` means, a dust box,

a supporting wheel and dust inlet nozzle, the nozzle beine; supported at one end and the wheel at the opposite end. o t' a sweeper comprising a casing, supporting wheels, av

Y brush and` dirt collecting chamber, said nozzle beingI removable and having an attachingr n'ieans to engage ther sweeper easing and maintain the latter in position, the sweeper being rendered detachable by the removal of the nozzle.

ln combination with a vacuum cleaner having vacuum creating means, a dust box, a supporting wheel and dust inlet nozzle, the nozzle being supported at one end and the wheel at the opposite end, ot' a sweeper comprising a casing, supporting wheels, a brush and dust collecting chamber, a loose, connection between the vacuum cleane' vand said sweeper permitting the latter to bodily move independently vertically, and a yieldable member interposed between the top ot` the sweeper and thc bottom of the dust box.

7. In combination, a vacuum cleaner, a carpet sweeper, retaining means on one ot Said devices for the other. means whereby said devices may he separated and each operated as independent units, and one of said devices forming in eliect, a cover overlying the top and ends of the other.

S. In combination, a vacuum cleaner havinp; a dust box, vacuum creating means, a dust inlet` nozzle at one end, and a supporting wheel at the opposite end, a carpet sweeper adapted to be positioned below the dust box between the nozzle and supporting wheel, the said sweeper device beingdetachable relative to the vacuum cleaner device, and means on the cleaner to engage the sweeper and retain the same in place. Said means being operable regardless of which end oi the sweeper is positioned foremost.

9. In a portable device of the character described, the combination of a horizontally disposed dust box, vacuum creating means positioned on the top of the dust box, a dust inlet nozzle forming a closure for the front end of the dust box, said nozzle projecting downward a considerable distance below the bottom of the dust box and having in its lower edge a dust inlet slot eonnnunicating with the dust box, a supporti ng wheel at the rear end of the casing, a wall projecting downwardly below the dust box in advance of the wheel. a sweeper of a size to fit in the space below the dust box between said downwardly projecting wall and nozzle, pintles projecting in 'ard from said wall and nozzle, and opposite ends of the sweeper casing' having a recess to engage said pintles, and the nozzle beine; detachable whereby the sweeper may be bodily7 detached.

10. ln a portable device ot the character described, the combination of a horizontally disposed dust box, vacuum creating means positioned on the top of the dust box, a dust inlet nozzle forming a closure for the front end of the dust box, said nozzle projecting downward a considerable distance below the bottomof the dust box and having in its lower edge a` duet inlet slot communicating within the dust box, al supporting wheel at the rear end of the using, a wall projecting downwardly below the dust box in advance of the wheel, a sweeper of a Size to lit in the space below the dust box between said downwardly projecting wall and nozzle, pintles projecting inward from said wall and nozzle, andI opposite @nds of the sweeper casing having a recess to engage said pintles, the recesses being of a size to permit the 

